Time Out says

4 out of 5 stars

From the up-tempo retro tunes to the brightly lit, lived-in digs (whitewashed brick, tarnished marquee “A” on the wall), this Milk & Honey offshoot proves a breezy evolution of the form. The tucked-away Chinatown haunt, inherited by acclaimed M&H alums Sam Ross and Michael McIlroy, keeps the same bespoke protocol as its forebear: At the brushed-steel bar, suspender-clad drinks slingers stir off-the-cuff riffs to suit each customer’s boozy preference. A call for a citrusy, whiskey-based quaff yielded the Paper Plane, a bittersweet balance of bourbon, potent, herbal amaro, grapefruit-like Aperol and lemon juice that deftly hit on the fruity nose without being cloying. A barstool comrade, looking for something a little sweet, a little spicy and with a lot of tequila, found every criteria met with the Torch Light, brimming with honey and lime notes and pepped with a vinegary back-of-the-throat kick of hot sauce.

The skeletons of the former bar still rattle around the space—the knock-and-buzz door system, the dusty tailors m&h alterations window—and wistful boozers can seek solace in Petraske-era standard-bearers, like Ross’s signature Penicillin, a still-inspiring blend of Laphroaig ten-year, honey-ginger syrup and lemon. But like its precursor, Attaboy is fine-tuned to boozehounds who know what they like but aren’t afraid to branch off, a testament to the attentive, savvy crew. With cocktail virtuosos like Ross and McIlroy tending to your desires, tipplers won’t be afraid when seemingly simple pineapple-rum sips come laced with swarthy, unexpected swirls of bitter Campari. They’ll be too busy trying to gulp every last drop.

The railroad-slim space is as intimate as ever, but a lengthened bar encourages a more laid-back, hang-at-the-bar type of feel. Ross and McIlroy scrapped many of the intimidating M&H statutes—the reservations-only door policy, the much-ballyhooed rules of conduct (no hats, no flirting)—in favor of accessible add-ons like a credit card machine, cans of cheap domestic beers and a slight price drop. In their wake is an easier affair with all of the prestige and little of the pretense. If Attaboy were a TV show, you’d want to Netflix the hell out of it.

Attaboy may be hard to find, and you may walk past
it once or twice, but look for the AB on the door and keep your fingers crossed
there are seats available. The bartender’s choice-only menu means you’ll have
to think about what you feel like drinking. Want a refreshing gin drink? You might
get a cucumber-gin sipper that’s exactly what your palate ordered. Prefer
something dark and boozy? A request for a Manhattan riff yielded a mole-bitters
laced rye cocktail, precisely what a cold winter’s night requires. The space is
tiny and cramped, so make friends with the people next to you, and maybe they’ll
let you sneak a sip of their drink.

An inconspicuous house, that might as well be a random person’s flat, no banner on the door, and yet a long queue of 20/30 somethings, moving on the spot to stay warm and eagerly waiting for the door to open. If you didn’t know you were looking for a hidden speakeasy in Soho, you might find all of this slightly surreal. But if you know ‘Attaboy’ is hiding behind the door, it all makes sense. Step in and you’ll be instantly greeted by a cozy and romantic vibe, the sounds of friends catching up on the week just gone by or couples on first dates blending a hint of romance with the very special, tailored cocktails on offer. You’ll be asked for your preferred spirit and flavours and either get something off the menu or have a drink tailored to your taste buds. Attaboy is cozy, tasty and has great service. If you don’t fancy queuing and want a table at the weekend, booking in advance is preferable.

Came here on a saturday night at 10 pm with one other person and got in within 10 minutes! Super tiny but still a great vibe. the bartenders were really cool and helpful in terms of helping us pick our drinks. They're also super creative when it comes to what you ask for. I asked for something chocolatey and they gave me an old-fashioned with a twist that strangely did hold a chocolate flavor!

Attaboy has become my new favorite bar. Yes, at $16 per cocktail it's a little pricy. But...I'm not the biggest alcohol person and after going to Attaboy, I now realize that I've been drinking terrible drinks. The first ever drink I had there (a black cherry riff on a caipirinha), literally brought tears to my eyes because it was so good. I savored every drop. The hand cut ice and the metal straws also keep the drink to the correct temperature until the last drop. The atmosphere is great, too. The guys are chill, yet super serious about the drinks. I love this place.

Sadly I can't review the bar itself but I hear tell that its namesake is a vintage clothing store in Belfast in the late 1980s/early 1990s. As a frequenter of that store in Belfast I'm glad to see its heritage lives on in a more liquid state. Next time I'm in NYC I will be sure to have a drink or two in homage to John back in the day. Alan.